Social Anxiety Support

PhocusMind · 01-01-2009, 10:54 PM

Hey all

I'm just thinking of places online that might help us connect with other people. This site is my safe-zone really and my starting point for forming connections with people I feel understand where I'm coming from with being shy or having SA. There are other places on the web that aren't specific to SA but can be helpful in curing the loneliness or help us reach out into the social world. I'm just going to share places and free services I know that really have been a help for me.

1. Stumbleupon.com

This a really great tool for finding interesting new websites that are popular online. When you are sitting in front of your computer, bored out of your mind and you start thinking about all your faults or problems, this is a cure for your boredom. You click a button and your browser goes to a website that is usually extremely interesting and you can even stumble upon new sites in a particular interest that you may have. Can't even tell you how many times it has cheered me up and even helped me find extremely useful sites like this one.

2. Mosio.com

This is a free service that allows you to text message in any question you may have from your cell phone, and receive answers back with in minutes from people online. You can even go on the site and help answer questions other people have, which is actually a lot of fun. But this way.. you don't feel so alone because you can be riding in your car, or sitting in class or work and when you have a question that's bugging you, you can get the answer instantly. Not just that, but if you think about it, how often do you have the courage to ask the people around you? That's our whole problem with SA, and this is a good solution.

3. 43things.com

This is a site I just joined tonight that lets you create a list of goals that you want to achieve at some point in the future. The best part about it is that the goals that you have are often shared by other people on the site. So if you have a goal of "calling an old friend" you may find that 100 other people share this goal as well. They can cheer you on, and make comments on your day to day progress on your goals. If that's not a support system, then I don't know what is... This is my page on there: http://www.43things.com/person/phocusmind

4. rememberthemilk.com

This is another task oriented website, that can actually remind you about specific tasks that you have at the time they are due through e-mail or text message on your cell phone. Unlike 43things, this is more of a self-managed task lisk but you can actually update it and place reminders from your cell or with an add in extension to gmail or your google homepage. I think goal management is a huge tool in getting over SA. If you feel your life is scattered like me, this is a handy tool to have available.

5. meebo.com

This is a site that allows you to log in to all of your favorite instant messengers at once, and even multiple accounts on each. Yahoo, MSN, AIM, GoogleTalk, ICQ etc. The windows client equivalent is a freeware program called Pidgin, just google it. I think it's important to use instant messaging when we try to keep in touch with each other. Sure phone & in person would be best, but we are starting from scratch here, and for me I know I'd like to meet some people on here who understand where I'm coming from with SA and being shy.

6. twitter

This one I'm still new to, but basically you can update the status of where you are and what you are doing. I think if you go about it in a private way, and form an anonymous name you'd probably find it beneficial at some point to have your friends know where and what you are doing. I know me even mentioning this is intimidating, but really what it comes down to is becoming comfortable with social circles and then reaching out when you are ready. If you keep the right people in the loop (those who understand where you are coming from) you will find it easier to communicate and you won't be so lonely. Just throwing it out there as a possible site to extend social connections.

7. myspace/facebook

These are okay, I think I have more success with these when I sign up with an anonymous account and not include people who are located in my town. Yes you can have that account too, but try an anonymous account. Who's going to know, and it's the perfect way to practice getting out there and testing things socially. Maybe you'll be a badass, or maybe you'll be a confident successful person, or some other kind of person you dream to be. The idea is to make it geared towards the person you want to be rather than focus on who you are now.

I wanted to get to at least 10 on this, but i am blanking right now. i am sure there are some i missed, maybe you can help me?

know any sites that help with social connections/organizing or getting over SA, let me know!

Thanks!

jeff

~phocusmind

feel free to add me as your friend, and PM me!

shyvr6 · 01-02-2009, 12:13 AM

Thanks for the sites.

refined_rascal · 01-02-2009, 05:09 AM

A great post. Thanks for that.

Drew · 01-02-2009, 10:41 AM

Thanks for sharing!

I am an dedicated user of Remember the Milk (RTM). I even have the app set up on my iPhone. I could go on and on about how great I think it is, but I won't to save you guys my geekiness.

01-01-2009, 10:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
PhocusMind Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Gender: Male Posts: 33	Online sites to help connect with people Hey all I'm just thinking of places online that might help us connect with other people. This site is my safe-zone really and my starting point for forming connections with people I feel understand where I'm coming from with being shy or having SA. There are other places on the web that aren't specific to SA but can be helpful in curing the loneliness or help us reach out into the social world. I'm just going to share places and free services I know that really have been a help for me. 1. Stumbleupon.com This a really great tool for finding interesting new websites that are popular online. When you are sitting in front of your computer, bored out of your mind and you start thinking about all your faults or problems, this is a cure for your boredom. You click a button and your browser goes to a website that is usually extremely interesting and you can even stumble upon new sites in a particular interest that you may have. Can't even tell you how many times it has cheered me up and even helped me find extremely useful sites like this one. 2. Mosio.com This is a free service that allows you to text message in any question you may have from your cell phone, and receive answers back with in minutes from people online. You can even go on the site and help answer questions other people have, which is actually a lot of fun. But this way.. you don't feel so alone because you can be riding in your car, or sitting in class or work and when you have a question that's bugging you, you can get the answer instantly. Not just that, but if you think about it, how often do you have the courage to ask the people around you? That's our whole problem with SA, and this is a good solution. 3. 43things.com This is a site I just joined tonight that lets you create a list of goals that you want to achieve at some point in the future. The best part about it is that the goals that you have are often shared by other people on the site. So if you have a goal of "calling an old friend" you may find that 100 other people share this goal as well. They can cheer you on, and make comments on your day to day progress on your goals. If that's not a support system, then I don't know what is... This is my page on there: http://www.43things.com/person/phocusmind 4. rememberthemilk.com This is another task oriented website, that can actually remind you about specific tasks that you have at the time they are due through e-mail or text message on your cell phone. Unlike 43things, this is more of a self-managed task lisk but you can actually update it and place reminders from your cell or with an add in extension to gmail or your google homepage. I think goal management is a huge tool in getting over SA. If you feel your life is scattered like me, this is a handy tool to have available. 5. meebo.com This is a site that allows you to log in to all of your favorite instant messengers at once, and even multiple accounts on each. Yahoo, MSN, AIM, GoogleTalk, ICQ etc. The windows client equivalent is a freeware program called Pidgin, just google it. I think it's important to use instant messaging when we try to keep in touch with each other. Sure phone & in person would be best, but we are starting from scratch here, and for me I know I'd like to meet some people on here who understand where I'm coming from with SA and being shy. 6. twitter This one I'm still new to, but basically you can update the status of where you are and what you are doing. I think if you go about it in a private way, and form an anonymous name you'd probably find it beneficial at some point to have your friends know where and what you are doing. I know me even mentioning this is intimidating, but really what it comes down to is becoming comfortable with social circles and then reaching out when you are ready. If you keep the right people in the loop (those who understand where you are coming from) you will find it easier to communicate and you won't be so lonely. Just throwing it out there as a possible site to extend social connections. 7. myspace/facebook These are okay, I think I have more success with these when I sign up with an anonymous account and not include people who are located in my town. Yes you can have that account too, but try an anonymous account. Who's going to know, and it's the perfect way to practice getting out there and testing things socially. Maybe you'll be a badass, or maybe you'll be a confident successful person, or some other kind of person you dream to be. The idea is to make it geared towards the person you want to be rather than focus on who you are now. I wanted to get to at least 10 on this, but i am blanking right now. i am sure there are some i missed, maybe you can help me? know any sites that help with social connections/organizing or getting over SA, let me know! Thanks! jeff ~phocusmind feel free to add me as your friend, and PM me!

01-02-2009, 12:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
shyvr6 Status: Makin Waves Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Somewhere on a map. Gender: Male Posts: 9,645	Thanks for the sites. __________________ Music

01-02-2009, 05:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
refined_rascal Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: United Kingdom Gender: Male Age: 38 Posts: 1,730	A great post. Thanks for that.

01-02-2009, 10:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
Drew Status: Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Gender: Male Posts: 1,381	Thanks for sharing! I am an dedicated user of Remember the Milk (RTM). I even have the app set up on my iPhone. I could go on and on about how great I think it is, but I won't to save you guys my geekiness.